Fall Finales: North Shore - Season One

North Shore is yet another Australian (well mixed with some UK actors/storylines for Paramount UK) series which has just concluded on Network 10/Paramount+. I streamed it ad free on Paramount+. Personally I would prefer just to watch the 43 minutes of content not some crappy ad's for betting companies.

The six episode, first run follows the clash of cultures when British and Australian detectives team to solve a complex murder mystery, and uncover a conspiracy with international political consequences.

Starring heavyweight, John Bradley (Game of Thrones, Moonfall), Joanne Froggatt (Liar, The Commons), Kirsty Sturgess (Thirteen Lives, Young Rock), Dan Spielman (New Gold Mountain, The Code), Rob Carlton (Paper Giants, Chandon) and Matt Passmore (Frayed, The Glades).

Look this is nowhere near as strong as other Aussie dramas streaming now. Including fellow Paramount+ title, Five Bedrooms. When you weigh this up against Dead Loch, there is almost no comparsion. Also it's called North Shore, however it was mostly filmed around the CBD and surrounds. Something tells me a lot was filmed at the Star.

The basic plot goes, set on and around Sydney Harbour, North Shore follows the clash of cultures when British and Australian detectives team up to solve a complex murder mystery after the 19-year-old daughter of a UK politician is found dead.

But this international investigation will expose more than murder, as the two detectives begin to uncover a conspiracy with political consequences.

Now you do get a bit of a cliffhanger, so something tells me Channel Ten and Paramount UK were hoping for a second run.

With Riptide incoming (also on Channel Ten, also a UK/Aus production) and recent financial issues for Channel Ten reported by former employee. They deny these. I can't see a second season coming anytime soon.

So for me North Shore came at a bad time. Too many other Aussie series to compare it against. Stream it now on Ten Play via Network 10 or for those like me who got buy 6 months, get 6 months free, Paramount+.

Until next time. Enjoy the weekend y'all!

Fall Finales: Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens - Season Three

So I have to admit, I thought Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens actually had one more episode to air this week. It turns out it didn't soooooooooo...

Instead of the advertised (that said I read it on Wikipedia) eight episodes season three (which also felt like a final season) last week's episode Nora is Awkwafina from Queens was the season (or series) finale.

I loved seasons one and two of Awkwafina's Comedy Central series, however season three felt a little forced.

Lori Tan Chinn as Awkwafina's grandmother was in it less, which also made it felt a little less funny. With Chinn honestly being the standout of the series from day dot.

There is no news currently on a fourth season of Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, so with the writers strike ongoing... I'm really not sure a fourth series will go ahead into production. That said Velma got renewed today!

Can I also say the Nora is Awkwafina from Queens episode really did tie next to everything up with a super cheery ending.

So streaming in Australia on Paramount+ this quirky little series that was once a must watch is now a little more of a chore to sit through.

That said the twenty (ish) minute episodes still do pass by really quick.

So if you need a new series to drop into your roster, maybe land on Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens. A few more Fall Finales incoming!

Fall Finales: Year Of - Season One

So Stan is currently a powerhouse of releasing new Australian content. Ten Pound Poms is a favourite of my parents (full confession, I'm not ready for that yet) and Totally Completely Fine. Now comes Year Of. In similar vein to Bump, just grittier. 

Year Of follows a circle of friends and their community through their final two years at the harbour front Jubilee High School (introduced to audiences in the Stan Original Series Bump), as they navigate a tragic event that upturns each of their lives forever.

It starts out fast and all over the shop. Then settles into dealing with grief and high stakes teen drama.

Stan and Channel 9 are really pumping out the Aussie content with a Shane Warne series also incoming! ABC are also launching another new drama, Bay of Fires, whilst Channel 10/Paramount+ (hopefully) will launch another Aussie/UK series Riptide.

So it's a good time to like local stories on the small screen.

Year Of is a good little gem in Stan's run of original programming. With a relatively new cast, Wentworth's Danielle Cormack and Matt Nable are two of the notable adults. Whilst Sam Johnson also stars.

Younger cast includes Tully (Samson Alston), Priya (Tharanya Tharan), Mo (Samuel El Rahi), George (Samuel Dawson), Brendan (Nicholas Cradock), Gus (Joshua Hewson), Kate (Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn), and Maya (Isabella Graiche).

So if you have finished a number of other Aussie series and youre keen for a Sydney story, based in a familiar (Bump) setting, Year Of may just be what you need.

Redfern, Glebe and Sydney Trains stations never looked so good.

There are still a few more Fall Finales incoming!

Get Outta da House Cinema 2023 - Sweet As

Sweet As is possibly the best film I have seen in 2023. However it was released, screened at several film festivals in 2022. Its so nice seeing an Australian coming-of-age drama film, filmed in WA on the big screen.

Directed by Jub Clerc, starring Shantae Barnes-Cowan as Murra, Mark Coles Smith, Ngaire Pigram, Carlos Sanson Jr, Pedrea Jackson, Mikayla Levy, Andrew Wallace and Tasma Walton.

Mark Coles Smith is fresh from the news we will get more Mystery Road in 2024. More younger Jay Swan here we come.

Murra is a young teenager from a troubled family who discovers a passion for photography while participating in a youth retreat. The youth retreat takes the four troubled teens (each for different reasons) around the outback of WA. The scenery on the big screen is like one giant ad for WA tourism.

I was so into this film. I really didn't want it to end. It had great messages, while being based on a true story.

Stan's Bump (which now screens in the USA as well) Carlos Sanson Jr is outstanding. I really loved his energy in this film. He may have over exaggerated is accent, however still he is a talent. While also being extremely good looking.

So if you want to avoid another Disney remake, another tired comic book 3 hour epic film, maybe see if you can locate a session of the amazing Sweet As. We need our local stories on the big screen. We need to see stories of why a YES vote is so important this year.

Sweet As is simply sweet at 4.5 Stars.

Fall Finales: In Limbo - Season One

In Limbo stars two stars of Aussie dramas Ryan Corr plus Bob Morley. This is the story of a bromance in inner city Melbourne. Following Charlie and Nate as they face how hard it is to let go of those they love, especially when they are taken too soon and when they come back to haunt you.

It also stars Emma Harvie, theatre star from the OG Priscilla: Queen of the Desert - the Musical, Ms Lena Cruz and Aaron Fa'aoso.

This ABC drama was so much better than I was expecting. All six less than 30 minute episodes are streaming now on ABC iview. 

I am not game to give The Messenger a go (also on ABC) however there is so much Aussie content on right now. Including at the cinema. Tomorrow I'll do my Sweet As review. Later this winter, The Dry 2 lands at the cinemas.

We have all loved Bob Morley in Love Me, admired how he made it to a CW series in The 100 while starting out back at Home and Away. He is a damn fine good looking human being!

Ryan Corr who plays Charlie has also had his fair share of roles. Including most notably recently HBO's House of Dragon. While appearing on fellow ABC series Wakefield, Stan's mini series The Commons and Bloom, also on Stan.

So the bromance leads have both been on their fair share of Australian TV. It's a great time right now for Australian dramas. Not so much for new reality series. With Seven's Million Dollar Island managing just over 400K viewers on its opening night. Not worth a million bucks maybe?

In Limbo had mini series vibes, however the ending leave me to believe the producers could be aiming at getting a second season with a few questions up in the air after episode six.

I really enjoyed this local drama/comedy. However the subject matter is a little tricky to blend in comedy. No spoilers but it does hit fairly hard. Particularly the first episode.

So if you would like a series not based in Sydney or Melbourne, maybe try the Brisbane based In Limbo.

Get Outta da House Cinema 2023 - Fast X

Fast X is the 11th Fast & Furious film (including Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw). With some more on the way. Mainly due to this (like the recent Spier-Man film) being part one of a two part film series.

Vin Diesel returns as Dominic Toretto alongside Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, John Cena (where is Peacemaker season two?), Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Scott Eastwood, Daniela Melchior, Alan Ritchson, Helen Mirren, Brie Larson, Rita Moreno, Jason Statham, Jason Momoa, plus Charlize Theron. 

Dom (Diesel) must protect his family from Dante Reyes (Momoa), who seeks revenge for his father's death and the loss of his family's fortune. This flashback has a very awkward Paul Walker flashback to the death of Mr Reyes.

With an estimated production budget of $340 million, it is the eighth-most expensive film ever made.

Fast X goes global. All around the world, with filming taking place in London, Rome, Turin, other Italian cities, Lisbon, and Los Angeles.

Fast X has grossed $633 million worldwide, becoming the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2023. 

The sequel/Part II to Fast X is in development, while being to be released in 2025.

With a huge cast, huge action scenes, huge budget, this film does what Spider-Man also does. Go for way too long, with zero conclusion.

The bomb going all the way to the Vatican scene went for so long, I had time to pee, return and the scene still had not been resolved.

However the film had a banging, vibe driven soundtrack, with some seriously crazy action sequences.

Next was Jason Momoa as a nail polished bad guy. He was a little over the type. A little less Aquaman and a little more costume change for every scene. Even if he was involved in a high speed chase.

Yes the film series is ridiculous at this point, however it does have good moments. The action is tight. The global hopping is wild. Helen Mirren is totally random appearing in this film series.

That said, Fast X is a good (fast) ride. Sometimes its nice just to escape at the cinema, leave all your issues at the door, sit down and eat food you probably shouldn't in the dark.

3 Stars.

Fall Finales: Jury Duty - Season One

Jury Duty makes my return to the Fall Finales series. Yep its been a minute. However there is a few to come. Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens, Five Bedrooms and maybe or two more. Probably another Australian TV drama title. Alongside Five Bedrooms, we are spoilt for local choice right now.

The Clearing, Dead Loch, In Limbo, The Messenger, Year Of, North Shore and Utopia all currently airing. I also believe that Shane Warne series is incoming too. I don't remember a time with that many Australian dramas all on at once.

But now to a series from Amazon Freevee which landed back in early April.

Jury Duty chronicles the inner workings of a jury trial in the US through the eyes of juror Ronald Gladden, a solar contractor from San Diego, who is unaware that his jury duty summons was not official, and that everyone in the courtroom aside from him is an actor. 

Everything that happens, inside and outside the courtroom, is planned. In order to find a non-actor for the show's lead, an ad was put up on Craigslist.

James Marsden stars as an alternate version of himself, alongside other actors including Alan Barinholtz, Susan Berger, Cassandra Blair, and Rashida Olayiwola.

So was this deserving of all the hype? Well Ronald Gladden made it onto Triple J breakfast for a chat, I have heard this show get recommended around the office. So it had some hype to live up to!

I enjoyed episode one, two and seven (the ending) and eight when all was revealed. It was a different style of a show, however I wasn't completely sold.

That said in a crowded market of streaming series with many being copies of series that have come before, it is interesting to see something, somewhat new.

Jury Duty I believe is a one off, particularly since it has aired on a super big streaming service, so you probably cannot try and recreate this.

Either way, as the writers strike continues, this was a truly interesting, unique little TV experiment. I'm on the lookout for the copycat series that will follow.